Validation of a temperament test for domestic cats

Siegford, Janice M.; Walshaw, Sally O.; Brunner, Petra; Zanella, Adroaldo José

doi:10.2752/089279303786991982

Cited by 72 publications

(91 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…This behaviour is often accompanied by head and/or flank rubbing and sniffing, but again this behaviour is not restricted to interactions with humans (Cameron-Beaumont, 1997;Mertens and Turner, 1988). Persistent close proximity or initiation of approach (with an affiliative outcome) also seems to be part of the positive social repertoire of the domestic cat to both conspecifics and humans (Mertens and Turner, 1988;Barry and Crowell-Davis, 1999;Wolfe, 2001;Curtis et al, 2003;Siegford et al, 2003).…”

Section: U N C O R R E C T E D P R O O Fmentioning

confidence: 99%

Development and application of CatFACS: Are human cat adopters influenced by cat facial expressions?

Caeiro

Burrows

Waller

2017

Applied Animal Behaviour Science

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The domestic cat (Felis silvestris catus) is quickly becoming the most popular animal companion in the world. The evolutionary processes that occur during domestication are known to have wide effects on the morphology, behaviour, cognition and communicative abilities of a species. Since facial expression is central to human communication, it is possible that cat facial expression has been subject to selection during domestication. Standardised measurement techniques to study cat facial expression are, however, currently lacking. Here, as a first step to enable cat facial expression to be studied in an anatomically based and objective way, CatFACS (Cat Facial Action Coding System) was developed. Fifteen individual facial movements (Action Units), six miscellaneous movements (Action Descriptors) and seven Ear Action Descriptors were identified in the domestic cat. CatFACS was then applied to investigate the impact of cat facial expression on human preferences in an adoption shelter setting. Rehoming speed from cat shelters was used as a proxy for human selective pressure. The behaviour of 106 cats ready for adoption in three different shelters was recorded during a standardised encounter with an experimenter. This experimental setup aimed to mimic the first encounter of a cat with a potential adopter, i.e. an unfamiliar human. Each video was coded for proximity to the experimenter, body movements, tail movements and face movements. Cat facial movements were not related to rehoming speed, suggesting that cat facial expression may not have undergone significant selection. In contrast, rubbing frequency was positively related to rehoming speed. The findings suggest that humans are more influenced by overt prosocial behaviours than subtle facial expression in domestic cats.

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Section: U N C O R R E C T E D P R O O Fmentioning

confidence: 99%

Development and application of CatFACS: Are human cat adopters influenced by cat facial expressions?

Caeiro

Burrows

Waller

2017

Applied Animal Behaviour Science

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“…The range of cortisol levels was narrower before the use of the facial pheromone fraction F3 as confirmed by the difference in the coefficients of variation, although the levels at both measurements were similar to reference levels for the species (Siegford et al 2003). Even though cortisol levels were within the expected range, levels of most cats decreased after pheromone use, although with great variability, suggesting that the synthetic pheromone affected the animals to different degrees but can nonetheless be used to control feline stress.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 85%

“…It has been shown that salivary and plasma levels of cortisol are correlated (Beerda et al 1996) and the measure of the basal cortisol levels in domestic cats using saliva samples was previously studied and validated (Siegford et al 2003). Therefore, because it is non-invasive and, consequently, less stressful for the animal, the collection of saliva represents an interesting method of measuring cortisol (Hellhammer et al 2009).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of a synthetic analogue of the feline facial pheromone on salivary cortisol levels in the domestic cat

et al. 2017

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This study aimed to evaluate the ability of a saliva collection device (Salivette®) to measure cortisol levels in saliva samples of domestic cats and to assess the effect of a synthetic analogue of the feline facial pheromone fraction F3 (Feliway®) on cortisol levels. A total of 28 domestic cats from a private high-quality sanctuary were sampled before exposure to the facial pheromone and after 35 days of exposure. Two pheromone devices were placed in the area where the animals ate to guarantee the exposure of all cats. The collecting device yielded a sufficient volume of saliva (≥0.20mL) to allow cortisol measurement. Cortisol measurements ranged from 0.02g/dL to 0.16μg/dL, with a difference between before (42.1%) and after (62.6%) exposure to the pheromone (F=3.2351; p≤0.0002). No difference in cortisol levels was observed between before (x =0.078μg/dL) and after (x =0.066μg/dL) (t=1.79; p=0.08) exposure. However, salivary cortisol levels decreased in 75% (21/28) of the cats after exposure (x 2=12.07; p=0.0005), suggesting that the animals have different susceptibilities to the pheromone or that they spent different lengths of time in the area where the pheromone devices were installed.

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“…Additionally, the questions in this survey were based on the types of observations often performed during feline temperament tests and assessments. For instance, Feaver, Mendl, and Bateson (1986) and Siegford, Walshaw, Brunner, and Zanella (2003) referred to many of the same affiliative and agonistic behaviors described in this study. Third, some coat-color categories had relatively few representatives.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%

The Relationship Between Coat Color and Aggressive Behaviors in the Domestic Cat

Stelow

Bain

Kass

2015

Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science

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Validation of a temperament test for domestic cats

Cited by 72 publications

References 23 publications

Development and application of CatFACS: Are human cat adopters influenced by cat facial expressions?

Development and application of CatFACS: Are human cat adopters influenced by cat facial expressions?

Effect of a synthetic analogue of the feline facial pheromone on salivary cortisol levels in the domestic cat

The Relationship Between Coat Color and Aggressive Behaviors in the Domestic Cat

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